Easy Creamy Cauliflower Alfredo (Printable)

Light and velvety pasta with a creamy no-cream cauliflower sauce for guilt-free comfort food.

# Ingredient list:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets (about 1.5 pounds)
02 - 3 cloves garlic, peeled
03 - 1 small yellow onion, chopped

→ Dairy & Alternatives

04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
06 - 1/2 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened plant-based)

→ Pasta

07 - 12 ounces fettuccine or linguine

→ Seasonings

08 - 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
09 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 - Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)

→ Garnishes

11 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
12 - Extra Parmesan cheese (optional)

# How-to:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower florets, garlic, and chopped onion. Cook for 8–10 minutes until cauliflower is very tender.
02 - Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked vegetables to a blender.
03 - Add butter, Parmesan cheese, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg (if using) to the blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Add a splash of cooking water if needed to reach desired consistency.
04 - In the same pot, cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
05 - Return drained pasta to the pot. Pour over the cauliflower Alfredo sauce and toss well to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed for creaminess.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get all the creamy comfort of traditional Alfredo without the heavy cream hangover
  • The sauce comes together in minutes and keeps in the fridge for days
02 -
  • The sauce will look way too thick in the blender but the pasta water thins it out perfectly
  • Letting the sauce rest for even one minute after blending makes it noticeably smoother
03 -
  • Adding a ladle of the pasta water to the sauce before tossing helps it cling to every strand of pasta
  • The nutmeg is optional but it really makes the flavors taste more complex and professional
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